MOD Astros #1

by byronlhsdrmr on May 13, 2009 12:54 PM EDT

5/13/09

Excuse me, as I slide my legs into Bobby Heck's ironed slacks, and tie his shoes tightly onto my feet.

I am very excited about the Astros' draft prospects going in, and although I am wearing the pants [Bobby Heck's pants at that], I appreciate those of you who are willing to advise me. I feel as though, together we can come up with a plan that would most benefit the Astros (hypothetically) and this mock draft.

We are picking four times: 21, 69, 100, and 111.

We should spend this entry preparing a plan of attack. With that in mind, let me share with you my purpose. I believe it is our duty to serve this mock draft by trying our best to become the Astros front office. This will require us to stop thinking, what would we like to see happen, which players are my favorite and begin asking the questions, who are the Astros targeting? Which players best fit Bobby Heck and Ed Wade's draft philosophies? What areas will Houston target and when?

So, with the 21st pick what are the Astros likely to take (and why)? I'm looking for responses like, for example, Houston is definitely looking to take a HS arm in the first round. Last year they scored big with Jordan Lyles and Ross Seaton, they can score a lefty counterpart in Tyler Skaggs in the first round here. Basically what do you think Houston will look to do in the draft, and if you wish to get specific with each pick, feel free to. If you wish to mention a name or two, you are interested in, go ahead and name them, but be sure to give support for that player, how do they fit in Houston's draft plans. We will discuss particular names at a later time. Right now my main is to establish a plan. I want to thank you all for participating and I look forward to reading and discussing your ideas.

The last manner of business would be selecting a deputy scouting director, to manage things when I am not around. If you are interested please say so, I am not in a rush to make that decision, but would like to have the matter settled by next week. I will choose among those interested based on participation, and chemistry. I want someone whose thoughts coincide with mine, but also is willing to disagree, as long as they have solid information to back them up.

Tweet Comment 3 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Some initial thoughts on pick 21

Last year Houston went with Jason Castro a college bat with the no. 10 pick overall, and I think it is possible they take another college player in the first round again this year. However, due mostly to a severe lack of college bats, this would likely be a college arm (non reliever). I think Rex Brothers is the best case scenario player for us with pick 21. He would be the BPA at 21, and would provide Houston a quick moving pitcher. I like the prospect of Jordan Lyles, Ross Seaton, and Brothers reaching the big leagues around the same time (Ed Wade has announced a couple Lexington pitchers will move to Lancaster soon, I expect Lyles and Seaton to be in this group). There is a very good possibility that Brothers will be gone by pick 15, so what other college arms should we look into? I am not sold on Andy Oliver and James Paxton, both of whom are Boras Corp. clients (I believe), and as members of the Astros front office, we do not associate with Boras Corp. clients. Say it with me, REMEMBER CARLOS BELTRAN!

I also believe a high school arm is a possibility. As I stated in the above post, a high school arm could be added to the group of Lyles, Seaton and others (Henry Villar, Kyle Greenwalt, Chris Hicks, etc.). However, I feel as though all the first tier HS arms will be gone by pick 21 and I am not thrilled with the second tier. The first tier being Matzek, Purke, Z. Wheeler, S. Miller. Houston will not draft and sign Jacob Turner. I think Tyler Skaggs is a big risk and would like to avoid him. Chad James LHP Oklahoma is an option along the HS arm plan, as is Matt Hobgood RHP California who I am far from sold on. What are your thoughts on these players?

I have seen many mock drafts with the Astros taking a HS catcher with this pick, but I don’t think it will happen. I’m not going to ignore this route, so if you think of this as an option, state your case.

I feel as though there will be better value taking a pitcher at 21 than a hitter. However, it would be wise to discuss bats in the first round nonetheless. What bats would be potential steals at pick 21? There are not many impact bats in the farm, so no position is to be ignored, although, as previously hinted at, I am not going to seek a catcher. Houston does have a number of decent OF prospects, many of whom were drafted last year: Bogusevic, Colin DeLome, Mitch Einertson, Jay Austin, T.J. Steele, Jon Gaston, Jack Shuck, etc. But, none of those names would dissuade me from taking an impact outfielder. One of the biggest areas of need, in my opinion, is at shortstop, and I would like to look into taking one (most likely from high school) with a good bat, while having the defensive ability to stay at short. Who are some guys that fit that description? My guy for that spot would be David Renfroe SS Mississippi, who would hopefully drop to us in the second round. Feel free to pitch other names.

Those are just some opening thoughts. Tell me what you like, what you don’t like, and please answer some of the discussion questions I’ve given.

by byronlhsdrmr on May 13, 2009 1:37 PM EDT reply actions

based on what I've read...

We can expect Heck to place an emphasis on the following areas: athleticism, up-the-middle positions, and size (esp. with pitchers). He doesn’t really care what the pundits think and isn’t afraid to buck consensus with picks. Castro was an example of this (as was Lyles) and Heck was formerly a Crosschecker for a Brewers system that did the same thing. So, expect the unexpected, or something. If we’re going for realism, bonus demands can play a factor, as the club will occasionally go above-slot a little later in the draft (Seaton, Patton, etc), but they won’t be breaking the bank in the first round.

Heck did a chat a while back and cited HS pitching as the biggest strength of this draft. That doesn’t mean we’ll draft one in the first round, but, at least as of a few months ago, that was an area he liked in this draft. I don’t see them targeting a catcher in the first round, either. Yeah, you go BPA, but catcher is a position that they have depth at, from Towles, Palmasino, Santangelo, down to Castro, Clemens and Hernandez. There’s also the question mark around Sapp. So, I see them going elsewhere instead of drafting their 3rd 1st-round catcher in 5 drafts.

I haven’t had time to really study players, so I won’t go into that too much, but I do like Renfroe in the second, if he’s still available. I like Skaggs in the first, also, but at 21 there are plenty of options heading in and he may not be there. So, as things get a little closer, maybe we can get a more definite look at who will be the best options at that pick.

by astrosfan76 on May 14, 2009 9:55 AM EDT reply actions

Your first paragraph is basically a summary of a longer piece I planned on putting up on Crawfishboxes in the next week or two…I think they’re planning on doing a draft week special. I’ll try to chime in here from time to time, but school’s got me tied up for a little while longer.

by AstroAndy on May 16, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions